Being Pretty | No Monsters | Children's Toys | Don't Feed The Freaks | Model Citizen | Friendly Shadow | Immortal Machine
First Released: June 25th, 2020
The Friendly Shadow is sent to investigate a murder, and discovers that monsters are living in the sewers under Autodale.
Friendly Shadow contains examples of:
- A Day in the Limelight: This episode focuses on Friendly Shadow, a Cyborg detective who is investigating the murder of a citizen. The citizen was killed by a Freak and his daughter taken, his widow asking that her daughter be brought back safely. After a lengthy battle, Shadow learns that the little girl has had a friendship with the Freak and will be branded Ugly if brought back. Shadow lets the pair leave the town, but his superiors debate what to do with him.
- An Arm and a Leg: The adult Freak's left arm is torn off in a fight with a pair of Handymen. And after the Friendly Shadow threatens (what is assumed to be) their child, they proceed to do the same to him.
- Bait-and-Switch: Throughout the short, Shadow is communicating with a superior named Hive. The end of the short reveals Hive isn't a single woman, but a massive Hive Mind of Exceptional people.
- Bittersweet Ending: Shadow manages to keep his promise to the girl's mother and lets her and the Freak escape Autodale. However, it's implied he'll lose more of his humanity, the girl's mother is still executed for being a widow, and the little girl will probably never see her brothers again.
- Call-Back: The young girl offering the Freak a slice of cake with a single candle is a recreation of an image seen in the narrator's notebook during "Don't Feed The Freaks", which in turn was originally a drawing by David that inspired him to create Autodale in the first place.
- The Cameo: The Robinson family makes a quick cameo watching an advertisement for Shadow's propaganda piece. Robinson Junior's wife also appears listening to it on the radio.
- Deadly Euphemism: In propaganda pieces, Shadow wears a long black trench-coat. He refuses to wear it outside of propaganda pieces as an act of defiance against Autodale. At the end of the short, Hive debates whether or not to "give him the coat", implying it would keep him directly under their control.
- Film Noir: The primary inspiration for the short. We have the Hardboiled Detective with a hidden heart of gold working in the dark and shadowy city. There's even hints of a Femme Fatale, although the role is split between the mother (the "femme") and Hive (the "fatale").
- Lightning Gun: The Friendly Shadow's weapon is a Tesla-coil like weapon that appears to fire bolts of electricity. It still looks like a revolver, however.
- Mama Bear/Papa Wolf: While the gender of the adult Freak is never revealed (or indeed they may have no sense of 'gender' in any case), note that they barely react when Shadow levels his gun at them... But when Shadow points his weapon at the juvenile Freak, the severely wounded adult immediately springs up and attacks him.
- Meaningful Name: Shadow's superior is named Hive. At the end of the short, Hive is revealed as a Hive Mind of people who were Exceptional.
- Propaganda Machine: After Shadow lets the little girl and the Freak escape, Hive takes custody of him and puts out propaganda campaigns glorifying his recent escapade. Instead of a little girl running away with a peaceful Freak, a little girl is kidnapped, but Shadow safely manages to bring her home.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Downplayed. The main brain of Hive recognizes Shadow disobeyed direct orders to fulfill the dying wishes of the girl's mother. She advocates to give him a simple rewiring, reasoning that removing too much of his humanity would defeat his purpose. However, the rest of Hive disagrees, with the implication Shadow will just become a tool for them.
- The Outside World: Shadow lets the Freak and the little girl go free. While the little girl will likely never see her family again, she is finally free from Autodale.
- Take a Third Option: Shadow promised the little girl's mother her daughter would be found alive, but Hive decides she's Ugly due to the recent events. Instead, Shadow compromises and lets the pair escape the city.
- There Are No Therapists: Implied. Hive mentions the little girl will be declared Ugly, due to her friendship with the Freak and the fact the experience likely left her "traumatized beyond all societal function." Previous shorts show that mental illnesses are considered Ugly, so for the citizens of Autodale, declaring somebody Ugly for being traumatized likely amounts to a mercy killing.
- The Bus Came Back: Hive's leader and Shadow's contact is the Exceptional woman who was hunted down by the Handymen in "No Monsters."
- Wham Shot:
- The Freak's lair, filled with candles and drawings. As the girl couldn't have possibly been down there that long, Shadow and Hive realize the Freak and the girl have created a friendship together.
- Hive is not an individual, but hundreds of Exceptional people in a Hive Mind state.
- While "No Monsters" shows less than ten Exceptional people in the Matriarch's lair, this episode shows that Hive has grown to the point of being a disgusting lair of bones and flesh.
- Would Hurt a Child: Hive is willing to experiment on the baby Freak, and were going to execute the little girl for being associated with the Freak.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: The little girl's mother is branded Ugly after her husband dies, as there no longer is a purpose for her in Autodale.
- The Mother: I've failed.
- Similarly, the little girl was going to be executed for her association with the Freaks.
